TODAY’S news that almost 400 new homes for armed forces personnel are in the pipeline is long overdue.

Public controversy over conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, lack of frontline equipment and housing back home has sapped morale.

But the ever-growing support for the armed forces, exemplified by the Help for Heroes charity, has bolstered confidence.

Now the Ministry of Defence is putting its money where its mouth is and investing in new homes in South and West Oxfordshire.

There will be 120 new homes at RAF Benson and rat-infested homes at Dalton Barracks will finally be replaced.

RAF Brize Norton will also get 102 new much-needed units to help take pressure off private rented homes from the transfer of personnel from RAF Lyneham.

This is all the more vital as plans for 780 military homes in Carterton were this year scaled back to 200.

Let’s hope it’s just the start.